Ban Residential

Nieuw Zuid is not only the biggest urban extension of Antwerp, but of Belgium. We enjoyed every single moment of keeping an eye on how the new district was evolving, and experiencing how top international architects like Max Dudler, Stefano Boeri, Robbrecht en Daem or Shigeru Ban left their marks on Belgian residential homes that provide the public with a higher living experience.

When we make animations, the main goal—besides to amaze people, of course—is to tell stories in a way that evokes feelings and meets the architects’ intentions, too. And these developments were the perfect sources to achieve this goal as a visualization studio.

As Shigeru Ban put it ‘Wood is ecologically sound and allows a faster build-up. It’s my favorite material and my trademark that I like to bring to Antwerp streets‘—so by no surprise, the Ban building is mainly constructed from wood that is the perfect, sustainable alternative to steel and concrete, while the zinc roofing is a subtle representation of the land of the rising sun and the archetypal Japanese architectural style.

The 24 storeys and 80 meters high building will be the first wooden residential tower in Belgium. However, due to safety reasons, a completely wooden construction was not an option, therefore, Ban had to come up with a hybrid model for his first Belgian project with a supporting structure made of steel and concrete. For example, the center of the building where the elevators and stairs are located will be constructed in concrete.

A key driving force behind our visualization strategy is the belief that attention is our most valuable currency, and we must respectfully earn it. 

At ZOA, story and VFX work together. We look ahead to discover new tools, and techniques that will shape the future of animated architecture. Irrespective of the target audience—even if it’s youngsters on the verge of buying their first home, or stubborn juries evaluating design proposals, we believe that by empowering viewers with impressive visual effects and authentic stories, we will be able to cut through the noise and foster meaningful relationships with the viewers.

But this time, we are also grateful for having a chance to work with an outstanding company, Triple Living, who made it possible for some of the best architects in Antwerp to leave a mark on the left side of the River Scheldt.